The high-profile sports star is in Australia this week for a title bout against Jeff Horn on July 2. He is also a Senator who is fighting for a National Bible Day in his homeland, the Philippines. Late last year, he introduced a bill to establish an annual National Bible Day every January.

Raised in a Roman Catholic family, Pacquiao believes he came to a significant faith in Jesus only in 2012. Since then, he has combined his fame and success with steadily sharing his Christian faith and beliefs.

Pacquiao fights for Bible Day

As reported by The Inquirer in December 2016, Pacquiao’s explanatory note about the National Bible Day bill cited the fact that Christians comprise 93 per cent of the population of the Philippines. This is the largest Christian population in the Asia-Pacific. The National Bible Day bill aims to recognise “the value of the Holy Bible as the core of Christian faith.”

“The core of Christian belief is grounded on the Holy Bible.” – Manny Pacquaio

As Pacquiao introduced the bill in the Senate, he said: “The core of Christian belief is grounded on the Holy Bible. Sermons and homilies of Christian churches dwell in the teachings of the Bible. It is the primary source of spiritual manna. It forms and transforms lives of people from generations to generations. It serves as the foundation of spiritual, moral, and social fibre, which moulds a socially responsible citizenry and strong nation building.

“This bill seeks to boldly emphasise the holiness of ‘The Living Truth’ by allotting a holiday for its celebration on every last Monday of January, which shall be known as ‘National Bible Day.'”

‘The only way is Jesus’

In press conferences and interviews, the champion boxer often mentions his personal relationship with Jesus. He told The Guardian: “I’m happy because I found the right way, salvation, born again. We are required to be born again, all of us. Christ said unless we are born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God. So it’s very important to me. Jesus Christ said: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ There is no other way. The only way is through Jesus.”

“I believe in God our Father I believe in Christ the Son I believe in the Holy Spirit Our God is three in one I believe in the resurrection That we will rise again For I believe in the Name of Jesus”

A post shared by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on Jan 14, 2017 at 8:22pm PST

More important than winning

Yesterday, a week out from taking on Jeff Horn in a title fight, Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee attended the Worship Centre Christian Church in Carina, Queensland.

“Sunday is always my worship day,’’ Pacquiao told the Courier Mail after the service. “It’s a day to give back to the Lord. I liked the service here in the Worship Centre very much.

“I did not come here to ask about the fight. I came here for something more important – to help build my relationship with the Lord and, of course, to pray for our salvation.’’

A family affair

Pacquiao frequently posts images on social media of his entire family on their way to church.

Pacquiao prays for typhoon victims

Last year, the World Welterweight Champion posted a sensitive prayer for the victims of typhoon Lawin and the rebuilding process in the Philippines.

Lord Jesus, we pray for all the victims of typhoon Lawin and the spirits that have been broken. For the lives lost, may their souls find peace in heaven. Welcome them in the warm embrace of your loving arms and give them rest. We pray also for the families they have left behind. May you keep them strong as they carry on with their lives. Give them courage to face any further hardships that come their way, and allow them to pave the way to a better life. Though some may be homeless, we pray that they never be hopeless. Lord Jesus, those of us you have spared from the typhoon are grateful. We pray that you always remind us to do what we can for the victims and to be the pillars in rebuilding our nation. In You we place our hope and trust. Amen

A post shared by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on Oct 23, 2016 at 10:18am PDT